Monday, December 9, 2013

(Thank you all for waiting for Part II of this story while my computer has been in the shop with a virus...aka, the devil trying to distract me from writing. I hope your Thanksgiving weekend was amazing and that your Advent seasons are focused on Him.)I started Part I of this thread speculating as to the reasons why NBC's "The Voice" won the Emmy award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program in 2013, beating "The Amazing Race" who had won it 9 out of 10 times previously. I theorized that it was because it's producer, Mark Burnett, in addition to creating this reality TV show, also listened to God's beckoning to create the mini-series, "The Bible," instead of listening to the inner voice telling him he wasn't right for the project, thus fulfilling a God-sized dream and reaching millions with His word. (Click here if you want to catch up on the rest of the post.) The reward? Abundant grace and success.Isn't it strange to think that we can so vehemently deny our capabilities in moments when God is so clearly pointing the way ahead for us?I am frequently guilty of this.I have been thinking, for the past few weeks, of my God-sized dream in process. Because the work is not in my hands right now, but that of the designers, I feel distant from it. And because my crowdfund campaign, which was richly successful on a personal level because of the grace I found in community, but was less successful on a financial basis, I will admit I've felt worried.My thoughts race along..."Christmas is coming and with it the gifts, the meals and the plane fare.""Colleen embarks upon her college career in just a few short months.""My work at Disney is snail-slow right now."Where EVER am I going to get the additional $13,000+ needed to produce it?As I watched episode #1 of "The Bible" two nights ago, I was coming off of a day where I was actually trying to talk myself off the ledge of doubt.The quinoa was simmering on the stovetop, and I was sautéing onions, squash, and peppers."The Bible" was thundering in the background.Colleen came in from her workout, and we sat in the den together, watching the mini-series and eating our dinner.Then came the part with Abraham and Isaac on the mountain.Remember?God tests Abraham's faith by asking him to sacrifice Isaac on an altar built to Him."9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”12 He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you [b]fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” - Genesis 22:9-12Mark Burnett produced this moment in biblical history so poignantly. It was shot partially from Abraham's wife, Sarah's, point of view. I connected so profoundly with the horror she felt once she realized Abraham had brought no animal sacrifice with him to offer on the mountain. When she realized that her son was to be proffered. She and Abraham had waited such a long time for this blessing, and it was to be taken away.Colleen and I settled into our bowls of grain while watching the scene play out, and Colleen said, "This is disturbing." I nodded and said, "This was one of the scripture verses that I would listen to when I was growing up and think, 'Boy, God is kind of twisted. This doesn't seem at all fair.'"Yikes....And could I do it?Could I take one of my babies up on a mountain with the sure knowledge that they wouldn't come back down with me?That God is and should be BIGGER THAN EVERYTHING in my life?But as I watched Abraham sorrowfully follow His bidding, I realized all my Father wants is for me to put Him above all else.Above the fear and the doubt...Above the pride and the conceit...Above my plans and my assumptions...Yes, above my family, my nearest & dearest.Then He'll take care of the rest.He needs to know that above all else, I trust Him.I love Him.I honor Him.I obey Him.No matter the direction or the cost of what I may think is a crazy plan or an impossible dream.That, dear friends, is a small price to pay...Faith in the un-seeable...For His greatest abundance in our lives.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

For those of you who know me, you know I love to write rhyming pieces occasionally...of course, less on the order of Robert Frost or Elizabeth Barrett Browning and more like Dr. Seuss. But writing in this whimsical style has always been a joyful expression for me, like a child myself in oh, so many ways. So in honor of Thanksgiving, I have written a little (nay, incredibly long) poem o' plenty to share with you all. It is centered around the four F's for which I am most grateful...

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

So...I have a theory.NBC's "The Voice" won the 2013 Emmy for Outstanding Reality Competition Program. This in itself would not be remarkable if it weren't for the fact that "The Amazing Race," CBS' golden child, won it nine of the ten years it has existed as a category. Aaaannnndddd, because "Race" was favored to win again this year.Now, I'm no reality series aficionado.My family watches a couple of reality programs that focus on uplifting and rebuilding, giving back and paying forward. But all in all, we like fictional television better. If I'm being honest, I tend to think that most reality TV is the current bane of society's existence. So why am I even writing about this?Hold your horses...It's because of my theory.When "The Voice" pulled out the win, my son, Braden, was marveling over the unanticipated outcome. I said, "Braden, I have a theory about why 'The Voice' won."So Braden - who is all about statistics and predictions thus was rocked to the core over this unforeseen result - said, "Well, what is it, Mom?"I told him I had recently read an article in Guideposts Magazine about the beautiful journey producer Mark Burnett embarked upon while deciding to make The History Channel's "The Bible."(What does this have to do with "The Voice?" Again, hold your horses...I'm getting to it! I promise!)When Mark's wife, Roma Downey, the star of "Touched By An Angel," originally presented the idea to him, Mark wrote, "All I could come up with were reasons why I was wrong for this project. I’m a
producer, not a theologian. This project, I was convinced, would require a deeper knowledge. The biggest question was, would a channel actually green-light this? Today’s
kids probably know more about Batman and Robin than about David and Goliath, and
more about the Matrix than about Daniel’s prophecies. They get their stories
from the screen. But that was it! Doing this “on the screen” would allow millions of people to
discover the Bible. We knew we couldn’t teach it, but we could create an
emotionally connecting dramatization that might make them open (or reopen) the
Book...""I believe that God calls those with the right skills at the right time. Could
it be that everything I’d learned about producing TV shows would culminate in
this one massive project? It felt like a call. I couldn’t get it out of
my head, as though the Holy Spirit was saying, “Yes, Mark, yes.”...I knew it was time to go for it again. This time it would be with a project that
gave back to God for all my many blessings."

"The Bible" premiered in March 2013 and to date has had over 100 million viewers. This series, a labor of love and thanksgiving to God for the Burnett family's many blessings, has touched millions of lives...Has brought the amazing story of God and Christianity to faithful (and possibly non-faithful?) people worldwide...And has defied a misconception that "real" stories of pageant kids and Kardashians, wife swapping and dramatic housewives will trump the desire to watch the greatest reality story of all time. "For that is what the Bible is, a story, the story of God’s love for his people,
the greatest love story ever told." (MB)So why is this relevant to "The Voice's" Emmy win?And what IS my theory after all?Well, Mark Burnett is not only the co-creator and executive producer of "The Bible" mini-series.He's also the executive producer of "The Voice."And up until 2013, nine out of ten wins for Outstanding Reality Competition Program went to "The Amazing Race."Then Burnett embarked upon his own amazing race.A race to create the story of God's love for His people.A race to fulfill a call, telling that story of love to a whole new generation of people.Then, not only 100 million views for The Bible, but...An Emmy win for his other show.We are blessed...we hear a call...we have faith in that call...we answer that call, that God-sized dream...we receive more blessings.Can there be any question about the gist of my theory?

Thursday, November 14, 2013

"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - Thessalonians 5:16-18I metaphorically use that old adage, "Do as I say, not as I do," WAY too much. You know what I mean? Do you ever give advice knowing it's the right thing to do...but you don't actually do it yourself?I do it more than I care to admit.So, this Thanksgiving season, I decided to put my money - or in this case, my creativity - where my mouth is. I put together a pin board so my family could remember to give thanks, writing our blessings down daily, something I've often encouraged but haven't always followed through on myself.Then the funniest, most surprising, thing happened this morning.I became more grateful.Imagine that!We've been talking in our family about perspective lately. About how sometimes it just takes a small shift in thinking to go from having a negative attitude to a sunny outlook. One of my favorite examples of this shift is from the book, The Noticer, by Andy Andrews. The book's central character, Jones, is teaching, a then young and homeless, Andy Andrews about gaining perspective. They're sharing lunch on the shores of Orange Beach, just a few miles from where I grew up. Jones asks Andy what he's eating and where he's eating it. Confused (because they're eating the same thing in the same place) Andy responds, "Okay. I am eating sardines and Vienna sausages...in the sand." Jones then teaches the lesson that "whatever you focus upon, increases." If you focus on your needs, the needs will increase. If you focus on loss, you will most likely lose. "But a grateful perspective brings happiness and abundance into a person's life...Incidentally, you ate sardines and Vienna sausages in the sand. I dined on surf and turf with an ocean view. It's all about perspective."Surf & turf with an ocean view...Oh, yes, to have that kind of perspective.Case in point...My husband and I have very different body clocks and schedules. He's an early riser, jumping out of bed with energy and a smile on his face. I'm a night owl, often doing my best work and thinking late into the night. Morning? Not so much for me. I mean, I'm not sleeping late or anything. Most days, my alarm sounds at 6:40AM. Then I'm up and out of bed two "snoozes" later, slowly, gingerly picking my way down the hall wrapped in a blanket.I'm not gonna lie. Many times during my marriage, I've been frustrated to not wake up next to my husband. It's that sleepy, close time of day for me that I find truly rewarding. By the time I awaken, Drew has generally gotten out of bed, worked out, is making eggs and bacon for the family (and may or may not have started a load of laundry, built a house or solved world hunger as well). He's helping the family, of course, but still, I'm bitter that I've missed my close morning time with him.This morning was no different except that Colleen had overslept, I had thrown my back out yesterday and couldn't go grocery shopping and we had almost nothing to eat in the house. Drew bounded into the house, sweaty from his workout and I said, "Could you please jump in the car and run to the grocery store? We have almost nothing to feed the kids for lunch." He said, "No problem!" running to change his shirt. He was back before Braden was out of bed. While he was gone, dealing once again with my frustration that I would not see him much before he had to go to work, I took my paper from the bulletin board. My first thanksgiving for the day? "Today I am grateful for a husband who doesn't mind going to the grocery store." I felt a bit under duress to write it because I knew I should be grateful...but Lord knows, I didn't want to let go of my resentment. Then God's amazing grace took over. In taking the time to write it down...pin it to the board...and reflect on it for a few moments, my attitude actually changed. By the time Drew got home, I truly felt grateful. I thanked him sincerely for going to the store and thought to myself, "You know, I am really lucky to have this man for my husband."Who knew that doing what you say to do could actually work so well?(Sidebar: In addition to the grocery run, Drew also helped clean up the house and do the dishes before leaving for work. The bonus? That freed up more time for me to reflect on this lesson and write about it. Wow...the blessings are endless...)

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

I love my friend Joan."Joanie" I like to call her.She is the perfect mix of wry humor and genuine, soulful depth.She is honest.She is kind.And Lawd Ah-mighty, does she make me LAUGH!I saw Joanie briefly a few nights ago, hijacking her before she left to get on the freeway. I couldn't let the opportunity pass without at least touching base for a few minutes. Joan said, "You know what my new favorite thing to do is? Ask for help."Oh, how I love her forthrightness.She went on, "I know I'm not good at everything. So if I have a friend who can do something I can't, I just ask, 'Can you help me with that?' It's been very liberating."Mmmmm, the simplicity of that task.And oh, the complexity of it as well.I, too, in these past years have become an asker. I never felt I could before. I thought it conveyed weakness. I wanted to be totally in control. Yes, I wanted to be known as "Superwoman Cynthia."

I foolishly thought it was working, too, until my cape got caught in a web of volunteerism and false security...And I plummeted through the air...X-ray vision turned toward myself, seeing with clarity my true insecurity...Super-strength abandoning me for appalling weakness...Tasks and commitments suddenly becoming my own personal kryptonite.I was in the pit.Lo and behold, how could I know that the one characteristic I had forever shunned was the very one that started me on my road to healing?I asked for help...at every turn..."I can't leave the house. Can you bring dinner?""Can you text or email whenever you think of it so I know someone is thinking about me?""The children have to be driven to their after-school commitments. Can you take them?"Unexpectedly, I found complete and total freedom in this new way of life. In fact, it had never registered before that time that, all of the times I had been helping others, I had been helping myself as well. It feels great to give. So I asked. Then my circle was able to give back. To take care of me in my weakness. And the bonds of friendship with those women are forever changed. Strong. True. Unconditional.Thinking back on Joanie's statement and my change of heart, I read this morning's offering from Bonnie Grey on the "incourage" website. It was entitled "Courage to Be Broken: My Real Thanksgiving List." She writes:"I wanted to be strong and courageous by being competent.

I didn’t understand God could make me strong and courageous by being broken...

to understand it takes greater faith to be broken than (to be competent).

It’s what Jesus chose in the Garden of Gethsemane, the night everyone was remembering Passover and giving thanks for God’s protection from passing death.

It was the night Jesus chose not to pass death.

It was the night Jesus felt like dying –

even though He had just celebrated the Passover meal with His closest friends,

Such a beautiful lesson and one I embrace today. This scripture passage and reflection is not encouraging us to wallow or complain or grow a bitter heart, mind you. Only to know that, in every season of our life, there are times when we need strength...strength beyond what we possess. When we have to be held up. When we have to be the broken in order to be strong.Strong enough to say, "Can you help me?"Strong enough to say, "I don't know the answer."Strong enough to say, "I was wrong and am so sorry."Strong enough to be vulnerable.In this season of thanks, I'm so grateful I learned this lesson...And strengthened my community forever.Photo credit: anattitudeadjustment.com, "Superwoman Fights the Blues"

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Today I'd like to go live on an island.On an island of people who are "like" me.People who understand why I'm loud and are equally dramatic expressive.The ones who think my laugh - okay, okay, guffaw - is charming, not obnoxious.An island of people who live large and uninhibited and free.An island of people....(Well, let's just call a spade "a spade" here...I'm really inferring "an island of Irish-Italians")...who don't need to understand every motive, tone (or lack thereof), or observation to cut me some slack and just ACCEPT ME AS I AM!!!!Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.Now, onto my point....Although I know this island would be more on the order of "the island of misfit toys" from TVs beloved Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, sometimes I still long for it.I long for feeling like I fit. Like my personality is one that belongs rather than one that needs work. Like I can say anything I want at anytime and know that, just because I'm surrounded by my contemporaries, I won't have to explain. Or apologize.Like I'm "finished" rather than the work in progress I know down deep that I am.Isn't it funny how God puts people in our lives who push us?Question us?Disagree with us?Make us work to be better?(Well, I'll admit, today it doesn't feel funny...it just feels exhausting. But you get my drift.)In the final analysis, I have to remember that God NEVER, EVER gives us what we don't need. EVER.Especially the people whom we need.Because He sees what we cannot.He sees that those very people may be working in us as a metallurgist works on a piece of iron to forge it into steel. Working out the impurities. Casting it in the hottest fire to make it stronger. Shaping the raw into the refined.No, I won't find my best self on that island, I know.It may assuage my momentary frustrations.But it won't do that which He knows (and I'll admit, I know) needs doing."I will bring the one third through fire, and I will refine them as silver is refined, and I will test them as gold is tested. They shall call upon my name, and I will hear them. I will say 'They are my people,' and they shall say, 'The Lord is my God.'" - Zechariah 13:9 (NAB)Lord, help this woman remember she is not an island unto herself...She is part of the main.She can walk through the fire and come out stronger.More refined than raw.Closer to the purest Image...That of You.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

I was always scared of the dark.I remember as a girl growing up in that rambling farmhouse in Malbis, Alabama, there was a night that my parents went out, leaving my eldest sister, Theresa, in charge. (My younger sister, Liz, would often say to her, "You're not the charge around here!" But that night, she was.) Mama and Daddy rarely went anywhere for the evening, so this was a special circumstance. In retrospect, my 45 year old self looks back with compassion on that poor 13 year old sister who was left to manage four younger siblings, all of whom were sassy, loud and stubborn. In other words, Irish-Italian.I'm sure Theresa was just done. Ready for the house to settle down and get quiet. Maybe she had homework to do. Or a boy to daydream about. But whatever the reason, she refused to come up the stairs - the dark, foreboding stairs - to get me into bed. Fresh out of a bath, black curls wet and in tangles around my shoulders, shivering in my pink nightgown with the lace overlay, I stood at the head of the stairs, crying for her to come up. I was making quite a ruckus already, the overhead light yet illuminated. So you can imagine what happened when she reached out for the light switch, at the foot of the stairs next to her right hand...and clicked me into the darkness. Into the darkness with the creaky wooden floors and farm goblins and potential burglars. Into the darkness that held my childish fears.

I FREAKED OUT.

I fell to my knees sobbing and pleading and screaming and...well, "temper tantrum" was probably how it would be later described. Looking back on that anxious 5 year old, I know the darkness held the fears of a child unsure. Of a child with a vivid imagination and not enough calm.Of a child who didn't like change.Nothing much altered those fears as I grew older. Living by myself for awhile, I often slept with a "weapon" by my bed. (You know, scissors, bread knife, candlestick...even matches against a threatening intruder, of course.) Even into my married years, I could never sleep whenever Drew travelled. It didn't matter if I had lights on or fell asleep to a TV show, I would inevitably awaken in the night and be up for hours, imagining the worst, those childish fears haunting my adulthood.What a waste.I'm no longer afraid when it's dark. Everything changed a few years ago when I came to realize that I'm not in charge. Of anything."I'm not the charge around here!"He is.He protects me when I'm weak. He comforts me when I'm afraid. Why worry about what may happen? He'll be there through it all.I was ruminating over this change of heart this morning as I was doing the dishes, feeling a bit anxious. I was thinking of how I have been disconnected lately from Him. And as I pondered the reasons why, I realized, "I'm no longer scared of the dark...""I'm scared of the dim."You know?

It's easy to feel Him beside me when I'm happy...elated...joyful...obviously and abundantly blessed...ignited from the inside with the light of His glory.It's easy to feel Him beside me when I'm scared and alone...dependent...insecure...lonely...necessarily leaning on Him to carry me out of the darkness.So He's there in the light.And He's there in the dark.But in the dim? Well, I forget to search for Him there.When things are just "normal"...When there's laundry to do and dinner to be made.When I'm not feeling awful but not feeling great.When we need a new plumbing mainline and the property taxes are due...When the kids are settled into their school routine and the marriage is "fine" and status quo has been reached and it's not bright and it's not black...But it's hazy.And I cannot see clearly ahead. And His outline is not blazing and not obscure but faint.It's there that I'm scared now. Because I forget to reach out. To trace His very faintness with my fingers and KNOW. He's there through it all.Not just in the dark.Not just in the bright.He is there in the dim.In the shadows and the indistinct...In the vagueness of living and normal light of day....He's there.He's still carrying me.Yes, I need only reach out and click myself out of the dim back into the burning light of His grace.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet."I love when the Light of Truth illuminates my path forward.I think, however, that many times we feel we only receive The Word from Scripture...or a pulpit...or a church. I have started to realize in the past few years that His Word has always been around me in whatever form He thinks I'll most pay attention.I got this Word recently from my friend, Robyn, and it has remained with me as I've worked to get my bearings back after a busy, blessed, but sometimes broken month:"God has been sending us signs and angelsIn 3's...3 times just in case we didn't get it the first and second time!!!Amazing.The WORDS yesterday were about not just waiting for the healing and restoration but ASKING TALKING COMMUNICATING TO GOD REQUESTING FOR WHAT ARE YOUR DESIRES OF THE HEART. Ask and you shall receive. Being active and not feeling selfish or too bold in standing up strongly and speaking The Words of God and what He has placed in your heart and situations in your life."Wow...These words have continued to light a path for me and a fire within me. They suggest the possibility - no, the necessity - of, not just walking the line that God has set for us (I don't know if any of us could truly ready ourselves for the mind-blowing power of those blessings)...and certainly not just walking the line we've weakly drawn in the shifting sand...but requesting, asking, communicating, in language clear and loud and loving what we want for our lives...the healing we expect...the restoration we're looking toward...the health...the wealth...the prosperity...the opportunity...the gifts...the work....the play...the wonder...our God-sized dreams fulfilled....our God-given birthright granted.Why?Not because, as Robyn pointed out, we're being selfish or presumptuous. But because we BELIEVE. Wholly. Unconditionally. Faithfully.And it's when we BELIEVE in this way, He knows we're ready.Ready for whatever road He has in store. That Word is a lamp unto me. A light for my path. Oh, how I love when my feet shine.photo credit: m.prinke, Flickr

Thursday, October 17, 2013

As I watched my husband and son walk to the car this past Sunday, driving to the 12:30PM church service, I realized that I had all kinds of "F-words" swirling around in my head. Marking the FOURTH week of not writing down or recording anything, these weeks have been abundantly marked by various "F's."

FAMILY and so much FANTASTIC-NESS (is that a real "F-word"?) were in the forefront as my daughter, Colleen, completed her Quest Senior Project on October 8th in record high school time.
Successfully reaching over 200 young people in her production of The Young Americans 3-day workshop...
Inspiring countless FAMILIES in the sold-out audience...
Raising FIFTEEN-HUNDRED DOLLARS ($1,500) for participating schools...
And getting the surprise of her life as the Associate Director, Jarod Sheahan, invited her to be a member of this amazing non-profit performing arts college in the FALL of 2014.
What a FAIRYTALE for her.
(FEELIN' it yet?!?)

This amazing, exhausting week was followed by FEAR and the FRAGILITY of life as one of my most dear FOUGHT an incredible fight for his health...
Admitted to the hospital...
Transferred to ICU then back out again.
Only today on to a rehabilitation facility where his path of healing will continue, he and his family FORTIFIED by FAITH in their quest for a bright and inspired FUTURE.

And in between it all, struck head on with FLU and FEVER brought on by FATIGUE (and maybe His desire for us to slow down, listen, write a blog about Him and the lessons up until then?!?).
Remembering to ask FORGIVENESS for the times when we FAILED to remember that our prayers are not FUTILE...
that we are not FRAIL when He lives in us, rather FULL of life and healing.

So as I come back to you, my community of FAITH,
I feel the FIRE of His love for me.
I feel FABULOUS and FORTUNATE in my future and that of those who surround me.
Above all, I feel the certainty that our FATHER, who art in Heaven, has looked on me and mine with great FAVOR in every part of our lives these last weeks.

In the FAILINGS and the FELLOWSHIP...
In our FORTES and our FLAWS...
Yes, whether our FAULTS or our FAITH have been the FOCUS,
His FAVOR -
His Far and away FAVOR -
has FOSTERED our incredible FORTUNE.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Lots of little girls walk around around in their mother's shoes, preening and prancing and pretending they're "big."The allure of the patent leather or decorative bows or bold, womanly colors - not to mention that ever-elusive chunk of a heel - propels them emotionally into the future. They make-believe they're in love - that they have a family & beauty &....MAKEUP! (Gasp!)Oh, the draw......the appeal. ...the mystique.It's a wonder Mamas can ever pry their shoes off those tiny feet.Me?Well, I didn't try my mother's shoes on.I was a little different, I guess.I wore my Daddy's shoes.I was thinking of that this morning as I slipped my gray & turquoise New Balance sized 7's on, getting ready for my day.I sat and remembered for a moment what his shoes felt like, giant on my 5 year old feet. (In reality Daddy wore a size 8, but they sure felt huge on my little piggies.)I remember clop-clop-clopping around on the hardwood floors as I secretly walked around the bedroom.I remember hiding in Daddy's closet, shoes swallowing me as I played in wonder with his Drexel Electric Shoe Shiner. I'd watch the buffers spin 'round and 'round, one red and one black. A kit fit for a king.As I poignantly remembered those precious moments, I wondered about my choice to don those black business shoes.True, the electric shoe shiner was exciting.But it wasn't the machine really.And it certainly wasn't the style of the shoe. (Remembering back to being in Bill's General Store, mortified that Daddy demanded to see a manager when he found out that his shoe of choice had increased in price to an unreasonable $8, I can attest to the fact that Allen Edmondo Italian Loafers they were not!)No, it was none of these things.It was the man who walked within them.I wanted to be like him.I wanted to be buffed until I shone as Daddy's creativity made him shine.I wanted to have the enthusiastic following that, as I realized from that very early age, he did.I wanted to laugh like him; think like him; teach like him.As I've gotten older, I recognize what Daddy had. It wasn't given by man or exercised by his own will.He sought his strengths through faith.It was that very faith that made all he created shine. It was his faith that made people want to be near him - listening, following his example.It was his generosity and kindness of spirit.It was his openness to letting God show the way. Yes, these qualities only grew stronger as Daddy aged, helping curb that Irish temper as he learned to patiently walk with Jesus.I now recognize that longing in him to do what I did at five years of age.He wanted to try on his Father's footwear, clop-clop-clopping around on his earthly feet, believing that one day he would grow enough that they would fit.He wanted to walk in the holy steps of Jesus.He wanted to tread that path of love.So I guess it really doesn't matter the style of shoe I wear daily.It doesn't matter the gender...The size...The cost.As long as I walk in His steps, clop-clop-clopping along until I find the right fit, I'll know I'm treading His path, walking the road to Heaven.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

My birthday is tomorrow, September 23rd.My girlfriends have been so sweet, checking in with me, asking what I'd like to do. They know my husband is out of town and probably fear that it won't be much of a celebration without him leading the charge. They're awesome, and I so appreciate them.But I think to myself, "It's 45...you know, no big deal. No milestone. Nothing earth-shattering."If I'm being honest, all I really want is to not have to do laundry or cook a meal.I don't need much.At least I didn't think I did.I went to church this afternoon - the 12:30 mass with the soul-soothing Praise & Worship music led, in part, by my daughter.For some reason, I thought of tomorrow and what the coming year will hold.And like visions from His heavenly heart, God sent a cascade of images showing me the way. Me in good health and good shape, loving life and feeling clear.My daughter graduating, healed and whole and anticipating her next chapter.My boy moving on to his high school life, a song in his heart and a smile on his face.My husband and I connected, happy and strong.My faith app reaching millions and helping people grow in gratitude...community...grace.Oh, what a vision it was.I can't explain it, but I knew this was a prayer answered that I didn't even realize I was praying. The entire service was a gift.The images were a gift. The music was a gift to me. More than anything, the joy I felt the entire service, was an unexpected surprise.Unbridled.Unabashed.Unadulterated.Pure.His joy.And I knew...I'm balanced. I finally felt it. After months of feeling "off," there it was. Contentment. Peace. Him at the Center.So I embark upon this 45th year with great anticipation, knowing that He has amazing things planned for my family."Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights..." - James 1:17aOh, the good and perfect gifts in store for me.Oh, the gifts of His love and grace.Now that's something to unwrap!Photo credit: Microsoft Word Images